Chapter 30 Cam
Cam flicked his gaze to the rear-view mirror again.
The sun hung at the three-quarter mark in the sky, and he and Dave were making good time on the return trip.
He loosened his white-knuckle grip on the wheel and exhaled.
The road behind them remained clear. The three-hour drive back to xTerra seemed faster this time without inclement weather.
Which was both positive and negative. As much as he looked forward to seeing Lissa and returning safely, he didn’t want to break the sad news to the kids.
He glanced at Dave riding shotgun. The sniper was quiet, his eyes trained on the passing countryside for the entire drive. Even with his former military training, he might be dealing with intense feelings about taking a life.
“I hope Lissa didn’t have trouble.” Cam would never forgive himself for sending her alone if she’d been harmed on the way to xTerra this morning. It should have been a peaceful drive as long as they avoided major routes.
Still, until he confirmed that she’d arrived safely, he wouldn’t feel easy.
There had already been so many complications in the last few weeks.
He also wanted to talk to her about something that had been on his mind for days.
It hadn’t been worth discussing until they knew whether they could return to the house in Nebraska.
Now, his revolutionary idea was once more in front and center.
“We’ll find out soon,” said Dave as they turned onto the final stretch of road leading to the Outpost and xTerra.
When they drove up to the barrier, Kory opened the gate and waved them through. Once inside, Cam rolled down his window but kept the engine running. He wasn’t planning to stop longer than necessary.
“Just the two of you?” said Kory, peering into the vehicle. His gaze held questions about Rod and Amanda that needed to be answered.
“Lissa and the kids. Did they come through this morning?” Cam’s burning question slipped out first. At Kory’s nod, Cam said, “Then you’ll know about Rod.
John Slains killed his sister, and Dave shot him.
I don’t think the rest of Slains will be a problem again for quite some time.
Shelby might rally some of the troops, but not right away.
Amanda burned their house down for good measure. ”
Kory said, “I’ll tell the captain to expect a full report. I’ll send you in now.”
Cam nodded. “I appreciate that.” He needed to hold Lissa and sleep for two days straight, but he wasn’t quite finished with his duty. “Did Lissa mention Eli Blake?”
Kory nodded. “Things are already in motion for his arrest. I’ll message the gate tower. They’ll call Lissa so she can meet you.” He patted the hood of the truck and sent Cam up the road.
***
In the days since Cam’s return, the Watch and Council had been busy.
With Dolores in their crosshairs, Cam had removed himself from the strategy sessions.
He might not like his mother, but he didn’t want to be part of entrapping her either.
He glanced around the crowded Gathering Hall, where most of the adults had assembled for Eli Blake’s public hearing.
The table had been placed at the front for xTerra’s councillors, while another was below with three chairs.
They would question Blake about his role in diverting supplies to pay the Slains.
Cam took Lissa’s hand, and she shot him a half smile as the Council members filed in and took their seats. He glanced across the aisle to his brothers, who gave him a nod hello. He hadn’t talked to them about Dolores, but they understood she should be held accountable for her actions.
Kory and Captain Wilson escorted Blake in handcuffs to the middle chair facing xTerra’s leaders.
Cam felt a prickle on the back of his neck and pivoted, disguising his move as fidgeting.
His mother sat a few rows behind, glaring.
He turned back without speaking. If the hearing went as planned, he and Dolores wouldn’t make peace.
She’d torched that bridge and watched it burn.
Lissa squeezed his hand, and Cam refocused his attention, hoping Mayor Winter’s plan worked.
Kory unlocked Blake’s cuffs and sat beside him, a microphone aimed at Eli.
Captain Wilson joined the councillors on the dais at the front.
He whispered in Kat’s ear, shook hands with the others, and then hopped down, returning to the doors.
He closed them and stationed himself in front, his arms crossed.
“Let’s call this meeting to order,” said Mayor Winters.
The low buzz of chatter stopped as the citizens of xTerra fell silent.
While the mayor was normally a friendly and cheerful man with a ready smile, today, he was somber.
“This will be a closed meeting until it concludes. Anyone who needs to leave, this is your last chance until proceedings are complete.” His gaze swept the room. Someone coughed, but nobody moved.
He cleared his throat. “Eli Blake, you have been charged with treason against xTerra. It has been alleged that you siphoned off supplies from the community warehouse where you work and arranged for their transport off our property. The Slains collected the crates as bribes for their goodwill. You did this many times over the last five years. How do you plead?”
“I moved the shit.” Blake shrugged. “Guilty as hell. But I was just following orders.”
Whispers erupted throughout the room. Unlike Cam, the news about the rediscovered crates would be new for most people of xTerra as the Watch had kept their discovery under wraps.
The mayor waited until the buzz of noises subsided. “Why were you chosen?”
Blake leaned forward. “John Slains and I went to high school together. I brokered an introduction, and he trusted me. At least as much as he trusted anyone. So, a little, as long as he benefitted.”
Kat Griffiths leaned forward. “Whose orders?”
“If I say, will I be punished?” Blake’s sideways glance seemed shifty.
Mayor Winters leaned in, his voice amplified and clear. “Everyone involved will be punished according to the severity of their involvement. The leader or mastermind behind these traitorous acts will receive the most severe punishment. His gaze remained focused on Eli Blake.
It was all Cam could do not to turn around to gauge Dolores’ reaction.
“Please continue, Mr. Blake,” said Kat.
“Well, it started about five years ago. We had all these empty bunkers, and my brother, who worked in the Administration office, was asked to override the entrance codes the original owners may have set up. This was when we were centralizing supplies from the empty bunkers. He followed orders and set up new codes.”
“Who had access to the new codes?” said Mayor Winters.
“Just the mayor. The old mayor, Ms. Montgomery.”
Another ripple of whispers spread across the room. Dolores might be feeling the heat.
“What did you do with these codes, Mr. Blake?”
“Well, at first, the former mayor asked us to set aside some supplies, rather than adding them to the community storehouse.”
“Did she explain why?” Mayor Winters’ voice carried over the dead silent room.
“Course. She said there might come a day when xTerra might have to buy its way free of trouble. That she’d ensure everything would be set aside for the future. Like a savings account.”
“So, you and your brother were ordered to hide supplies. Can you describe what?”
“Mostly food and ammo. That shit’s worth a ton now.”
Angry mutters spread throughout the room. Cam forced himself to face forward. He didn’t want to look at Dolores. He’d known she was guilty, but hearing the words and the reasoning made the pit in his stomach expand. She made him sick. He could see how this would play out.
“Then what, Mr. Blake?”
“Well, we couldn’t exactly keep all that extra stuff in our bunkers, since it was supposed to be secret. So, the mayor let us into the empty bunkers we’d already cleaned out, and we stored our separated crates.”
Mayor Winters flicked a glance at Dolores. “I see. Then what?”
Blake leaned back. “About three years ago, she ordered a discreet relocation of the bulk of the supplies to a specific location outside the walls. Every quarter, we moved more. A few of us transported them when we went hunting.”
“Were you told why?”
“She said it was our contingency plan.” For the first time, Blake turned around to face Dolores. “Mayor Montgomery promised we wouldn’t get in trouble.”
The weight of his accusation seemed to hang heavy in the air.
Dolores stood up, her chair scraping with the motion. “This is rubbish. I don’t have to listen to this.” She stomped up the aisle, arms swinging as she marched toward the exit. Her pace slowed when she reached Captain Wilson.
He didn’t move. “Dolores, could you please join Eli Blake at the front? The Council has additional questions.”
“I don’t answer to any of you.” Her tone sliced in its sharpness while her watery green eyes darted one way, then the other. Her pale cheeks were flushed.
“Dolores. I’m afraid I disagree. Please join Eli at the front.”
She puffed herself up. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”
Christopher Winters leaned into his microphone. “Dolores Montgomery, please proceed to the front. We have questions.”
She slowly turned and stalked to the extra chair at Blake’s table. She sat, crossing her arms. The room waited, with an expectant hush hanging over the crowd. Cam held his breath. Dolores stared toward the corner of the room over Mayor Winter’s shoulder.
The mayor spoke again, his tone surprisingly conversational. “Dolores Montgomery, what do you believe is the duty of the Mayor of xTerra?”
She jerked her head and met his gaze. “To protect our community.”
“Did you order Eli Blake and his brother to steal supplies that belonged to everyone at xTerra and hide them in unused bunkers?”
She shrugged. “I don’t recall telling them to move the crates.” She studied her fingers.